The Gear Shed

Twenty-Two designs has been a long time pinhead favorite thanks to their popular Hammerhead binding. The release of the AXL, a binding with a free pivot mode, has answered prayers of telemarkers everywhere.

When my touring buddies shoot condescending remarks about my inefficient freeheel tendencies, I pretend to acquiesce. I stroke their fragile alpine egos with my agreeance. I might be slower on the skin track and not as aggressive on the descent, but I’m in no hurry to convert to their Dynafited or Fritschied ways. I love tele in all its quasi-soulful, hippy glory. Then Twenty-Two Designs released the AXL, a rugged tele binding with a free pivot mode for touring, and while I failed to silence my friends, I could hang.

Black Diamond has announced a voluntary recall for a limited run of Avalung packs.

The Salt Lake City-based equipment company has issued a voluntary recall of a limited portion of Avalung packs. According to a Black Diamond press relase, the intake tubing may crack under cold temperatures.

“While we have not experienced a single safety issue related to this recall, we are aggressively pursuing the return of all potentially affected units," explains Peter Metcalf, Black Diamond Equipment CEO. "The AvaLung has saved multiple lives over the years and we cannot accept a hint of doubt in its ability to perform when needed."

What do backcountry booters, Port-a-Potties, and Idaho have in common? Smith sent a few of their athletes to find out.

Imagine if your workplace had a private cat skiing operation. Imagine if that backcountry mecca was just 30 minutes away. The employees at Smith Optics are just so lucky. They often bring athletes out for photo shoots and product testing, but this season, they stepped it up. After working as a terrain park builder at Sun Valley, Pete Columbo came on board to help Smith build a private backcountry park. Gus Kenworthy, Cody Barnhill, and Colter Brehmer were the first skiers to sample the goods. Is there anything better than sunshine, powder, and free cat skiing? We're not sure there is.

My mother loves helmets. Loves them. One of her proudest moment ever came when she was extolling a family friend on the importance of helmets in the lift line. He slipped getting on the chair, hit his un-helmeted head, and got a concussion. Score one for mom. And helmets.

Me, I’ve always struggled with them, even thought I shouldn’t. I know, I get it, my head has billions of dollars of education and orthodontia stuffed into it.

Because, no matter where you ski or how you ski, at some point you're going to need a snack.

Regardless of whether you’re zipping bump lines or dropping cliffs, there’s one thing that brings all skiers together. Snacks. And the free, resort-sponsored Nature Valley bars, or the cafeteria oyster crackers and honey combo doesn’t cut it unless you’re heading in at two for après (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

For dawn patrol tours, bell to buzzer pow days, or park hiking session you’re going to need something more substantial, like a tupperware full of chili, or, if you’ve got small pockets, Kate’s Tram Bars.

5 days, 7 friends, and your choice of one of 13 award-winning winter resorts in British Columbia.

Just think of it: 5 days, 7 friends, and your choice of one of 13 award-winning winter resorts in British Columbia. You’ll be trained by Olympic Gold Medalists and compete in your very own 1 day BC Ski Games – by games we mean the Amazing Wine Race and the Ski & Fondue Combined among others. Your friends will owe you big! Click here to enter.

Scarpa's burly AT boot skis like an alpine boot. Because even if your local resort isn't open there's snow in the backcountry.

We’ve been psyched on Scarpa’s Mobe since we got a chance to test it last spring. Our testers called it the best boot for people who value downhill performance, but still need to be mobile in their boots, like patrollers and guides. When it’s locked into ski mode, if feels like a fixed-cuff boot, but it rolls in to walk mode easily, and it’s compatible with all AT bindings, including Dynafits. As an addd bonus for the discerning, granola-eating backcountry skiers out there, it’s made with environmental friendly Pebax, which Scarpa is incorporating in a bunch of their boots.

Lange has dialed in their fit for a more comfortable, but still high performance boot.

Skis get all the hype, which is understandable considering the number of variables you have to address—rocker, dimensions, graphics that match your outfit—but boots are arguably even more important. You can turn fatty pow skis if you’re not locked in to your boots.

First Descents celebrates 10 years of helping cancer patients with their 7th Annual 80’s Ski Party on October 15th.

Round up your best neon ski-gear for the 7th Annual 80’s Ski Party, hosted by First-Descents, with official sponsors Warren Miller Films and Vail Resorts. Emceed by Warren Miller skier Chris Anthony, The Bachelorette’s Ryan Sutter and First Descents Founder Brad Ludden, the event is raising money for the E.P.I.C. foundation; a corporation that provides funds to charitable causes, organizations, and foundations.

At The Meeting in Aspen, we headed over to Buttermilk to try dirtbiking. Contour provided HD helmet cams capture footage of the action— here's what you'll get from these tiny video cameras.

We’re at The Meeting in Aspen, which is basically a good excuse for athletes, videographers, and gear companies to get together, talk about skiing, and watch the latest flicks from TGR, Matchstick Productions, Poor Boyz, and more. After a tasty breakfast of coffee and croissants at the Limelight Lodge, we headed over to Buttermilk to try our skills at dirt biking.